dogdoc Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 There are several name brand deer mineral mixes and i am sure they are all good. This is the time to start getting them out. It may take them a while to find it and they will really start needing the minerals as spring gets here. I make my own using the red loose trace minerals and ice cream salt. As the deer start hitting it more I use less salt then I get where I just use the red loose minerals once the spot starts getting hit hard. The amount of activity you see will be determined by the amount of or lack of minerals in available forage. I like to dig a shallow hole and poor the mineral mix in the hole and then mix with the soil. The deer will like or eat the mineral mixed dirt. Sometimes those darn deer will dig a hole 1/2 way to China. Here is a homemade mineral mixed that has been posted here a lot: WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $23.00 1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag. 2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need two bags. 1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt. Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need one bag. Directions: -Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix. -Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use. -Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep. -Mix your mineral mixture with the soil. Maintenance: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I'm going to try Deer Cane and Vita Rack 26 this year. Well, for sure Deer Cane and maybe VR 26. I'm just looking for something extra to keep deer around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David_218 Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? [ QUOTE ] I want to establish some mineral sites[deer licks] on our club property. What are the best ingredients for this? What commercial products work best and what homemade recipes work best. All information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. [/ QUOTE ] I've use the trace mineral block salt (brown colored) for many years and it seems to be working fine. Just yesterday evening, 25 feet from our home, I saw two nice bucks with fantistic racks! One was an eight pointer with 16" spread and the other a 10 pointer with about an 19" spread! Must be working okay! (Where were these two during gun season! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 7, 2005 Report Share Posted February 7, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Have used several different store bought minerals and have used plain red trace mineral blocks. They all work. Todd gave good instructions and am sure that recipe he gave works well too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted February 8, 2005 Report Share Posted February 8, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I have put out the red mineral blocks with little success, so a couple of years ago I started pouring loose salt and rock salt on an old log and the dirt in front of it, and occasionaly i put a bag of store-bought stuff in it. The deer have gnawed the log down a good bit, and I have seen rabbits and squirrels chew on it too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Hey Todd.......I dug up my old pic..........I remembered that I mixed mine at 1/2 gallon at a time, and got a more consistant mix that way.......when I got a 5 gallon pail filled in this manner, I just dumped the mix from one 5 gallon pail to another a few times and it was mixed good. As I've been checking my trail camera periodically these past couple of months, I have noticed that my two mineral licks have been getting hit all winter long......even through the snow........it should only benifit the deer as they transition come spring time..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Clay--good idea. i started a lick about a month ago to give them plenty of time to find it for spring. checked it today and have about a 1 ft deep hole--they're already tearing it apart! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Finn Posted February 9, 2005 Report Share Posted February 9, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I get this stuff at Fleet Farm in Wis. 300 pounds goes for about $50 Here's what we use: 1 bag - Sprout 18.5 Dicalcium Phosphate (blue bag) 1 bag - Sprout 18/18 Hy-phos (green bag) 1 bag - Kandy Kid Stockade Dried Molasses 3 bags - Trace Mineral Salt (red bag) All bags are 50 lbs We mixed them up in an old cement mixer and put out 5 gallons at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeWalker Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? An old cement mixer....what an excellent idea.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I will be putting out a lick this year also. I was going to last year, but remembered it to late. Looking forward to seeing what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redryder Posted February 16, 2005 Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Went to the Farm Bureau Store and bought the ingredients for the mineral lick. How much of it should I use for a brand new hole? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted February 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? i put out about 50# at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhtr1 Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I mixed the one dogdoc has above last year and it worked well. I was using deercain before that and it work well also. Last month I went to the feed store and they had there deercain marked down to get rid of it. 1 dollar a bag. I bought all 27 bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? WOW! This is great stuff!!! I never concidered mixing my own!! Thanks guys!! Ranger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Do you suppose the NY DEC would consider home-made mineral licks to be an illegal baiting practice? Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 17, 2005 Report Share Posted February 17, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? [ QUOTE ] Do you suppose the NY DEC would consider home-made mineral licks to be an illegal baiting practice? Doc [/ QUOTE ] Guess that would depend on what the NY DEC says about baiting. Here in TN, minerals are not considered food, but are considered supplemental and are legal. Food however is not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redryder Posted February 19, 2005 Report Share Posted February 19, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? Checked my deer lick today. It has been there for two days. Already have a couple deer scratching around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest trakker Posted February 20, 2005 Report Share Posted February 20, 2005 Re: Questions about mineral sites[deer lick]??? I like this idea but I am having trouble finding the first part,what happens if it is mixed before using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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